Evening Star Newspaper, April 5, 1925, Page 55

Th eaters he Sunday St Part 3—12 Pages WASHINGTON, MARGARET DALL Nationa) Washington Aweary of First Performances By Philander Johnson. One of the most remarkable plays of recent weeks was “Mismates,” a drama_strictly of the “we-strive-to- please” school. It was, in fact, a collection of dramas from which the auditor could select congenial ma- terial, ranging from the adventures of Jesse James ast Lynne.” Its only difficulty lay in the fact that it interrupted one plot with an- other so frequently that attention vas bound to waver. ® K x A first-rate scene of detective finesse, with hands going up all over the stage till the players looked like a class in calisthenics, was spirited, but hardly calculated to prepare the mood for the dear old episode show- ing the discarded mother kneeling hefore the sweet curly-haired child in his nightie, who says to his step- | mother: “Oh, muthuh! The pretty lady is crying. Dou't cry, pretty lady I love vou” It i 1 well enough to run the gamut of human emotion it should not he ard a gallop over so many hurdies hut <0 Whether audiences mterested in the life and jazz. which fiction represents as bringing flapper dangerous ac- | quainance with the underworld, is a | question which the playgoing public | still leaves open to debate. It difiicult to throw a glamour of romance around the roles to which the plot should, in this type of en tertainment, normally direct sym- pathy. That “Mismates” has an in- teresting story cannot be denied. It < not well enough acted to give it a fair chance to fix itself seriously n attention of cocktaiis cociety into A new musical show, “Mercenary Mary.” gave 2 remarkably good ac -ount of itseli, considering the fact that music and melodrama have been hrown across the footlights so lav- I<hly that the once trustiul has kept moving further and further in the direction Missouri. 1t demands to be shown so explicitly that by the time a really good entertainment has had benefit of word-oi- mouth ad the engagement for one we has drawn to a the ertising, e eslionis ¥ ¥ In the the suspicion which performance now en- the influentia® forces of still continue to use the Time on Any American with all the confidence of tradition. Thase who do so still sec in imagination the carriages | bringing the lifg of the city n joyous anticipation'of an event T n to its artistic en- deave ch of sporting in- “Would the play be a success ilure?” The question was on s lips, and everybody was | ¢ qui vive to call for the author | il him as the hero of the mo- | There were comparatively | flat failures to prevent a first irom being at_least enjoyable, cases where it was not over- mingly brilliant udiences still call for the nobody ever appears ex- . Belasco g try-out unters, the theater Yine, “First Stage,” earlier social whi e adils , held a te S suthor. épt - It has remained for Joseph M.| Gaites. whose career as a producer included many first-on-any-stage | hs, to realize at last that the has utterly lost its magic. present the fidus Achates | Mr Choos, and in his ca- | pacity of publicity director of “The | Sapphire Ring” he has spent patient | hours writing letters eloquently im- ploring people not to get the im cssion that the periormance will e anything in the nature of a try- t. Speaking with the vhich manager perience dares assume, Mr. Gaites'| is at George authority only of long ex comment on his own attraction wins more than ordinary deference. When he mentions Helen Gahagan as a member of the cast and gives his word of honor that she has a role which suits her to a nicety in a play employing finesse to the ex- clusion of direct suggestion, he in- spires not merely hopes, but confi-| dence. Anyhow, so much industry on the part of an advance represent- ative (a functionary whom Charles Hoyt once described as a man who dropped in the day aiter the open- ing to see whether everything passed off pleasantly) should have support. He writes: “This is not just another new show, here for a try-out. The play is at the present time the reigning sensation of Buda- pest, Vienna and Berlin, having to its credit over 500 performances in these important European capit The organization appearing here has just finished a preliminary engage- ment of three weeks in America Both the company and the play and the adaptation will have lived through the alled ‘experimental ages’ and will be offered as a com plete and finished product.” It mav be the fortune of “The Sapphire Ring” to prove the talisman that breakes the hoodoo and gives the Belasco Theater an opportunity, he- fore the scason closes, to assert it- seli as the scene of a genuine the- atrical triumph. * K x ok A remarkable engagement was played by the St. Patrick Players demonstrating that a local organi tion can command consideration on equal ferms with New York com- panies. It is an unusual achieve- ment, one requiring artistic courage as well as dramatic ability and ex- ceptional industry. =k k% The prolonged stay of “Rain” at the President Theater showed an ac- curacy of judgment the more re- markable because the play has so recently been seen by a company of greater renown. sor. It belongs to the class of drama which uses ruthless methods in a determination to harrow the sensi- bilities of an audience. * ok % % It is interesting note that stead of “Charlie” we now see “Charles” Chaplin, although Jackie Coogan still preserves his vouthiul informality and does mot insist on being billed as “John.” The motion pictures advance in dignity with be- in- | coming strides, even at the risk of tempting us to take our laughter a trific seriously. Ethel Barrymore Announced. ForLowiNG ments at triumphal engage- the Cort Theater, New York, and the Blackston Theater, Chicago, Ethel Barrymore, in “The Second Mrs. Tanqueray,” one of the best vehicles that star has ever ap- peared in, is announced to appear at the National Theater the week open- ing April 20. The occasion will mark Miss Barrvmore's first Washington performance in more than two years. Arthur Hopkins, who has directed Miss Barrymore's theatrical appear- ances for several seasons, sSponsors her revival of this famous Sir Arthur Wing Pinero play. Mr. Hopkins has provided an excellent supporting company, and the play with attrac- tive settings from designs of Clara Fargo Thomas. Miss Barrvmore's leading man Henry Daniell: Lionel Pape has role of Cayle Drummle; Helen bins plays the part of Ellean Tan- queray, and other important roles portrayed by Janes Wheatley, William Kershaw and J. Colvil Dunn. is Rob- Adolph Link, veteran 1€ a1 work on the tr Austricn mountain pl locale to Kentucky. erman actor. anslation of transferring “White Cargo™ will | hold the theater open as its succes- | the | B SUNDAY MORNING, APRIL 5, 1925. | Greenwich Village Follies April 19. (fifth) celebrated ilies comes to {day night. April | gagement i ared by and suce in the was devis ray Anderson and tember, 1 runs that, in its first ye ed only in New York, Philadelphia. During season It has been en | The the 2 nual enw Poli'z for latest all odds the sful show smart and soph edition of h Village Theater a4 week's en- version, de most popular yet presented ticated serjes new produced So prolon fn Sep- were its r, it appear- Boston and the current ged in a f the principal and Middle West presented here with the company This Greenwich Village Follies has fun in abundance, burlesque, travesty, witty and pointed sketches, ture, pantomime and buffoonery, adroitly Interlaced with and dance number Prominent in the company Daphne Pollard, Tom Howard, Joe Lyons, John Wells and Buster West, Irene Delroy, William and Joe Man- dell, Martha Graham, the Briants Julia Silvers, Al Sexton, De Lima and Marita Safronic, Jean La Marr, Barrie Oliver and Billye Wes- ton. and girls who make p the artists’ model group and form de background for the comicalities the featured plavers A Modest But Varied‘CarecrA ELEN STRANSKY, the only wom- an in the cast of “White Cargo.’ making her first appearance ax a fide interpreter of dramatic roles, hough <he has stage 14 vears Until few weeks ago Miss Stransky would consider nothing but “big-time” vaudeville and musical comedy engagements. She responded to the plays of the great American dramatists only as a spectator. Perhaps her early stage training had something to do with it. But whether it had or not, she desertsd her seat In high school to do splits in one of Gus Edwards’ acts. She be- came the prima donna of the act in three weeks. Later she appeared with Charles Ruggles in a vaudeville sketch called “Naughty Diana” in | Bobby Higgin® act and Richard Carle’s vaudeville, also in the musical comedy “Good Morning, Judge,” and |in_Ed Wynn's show, “Over the Toj Motion picture fans may discover Ia‘ strong resemblance between Helen Stransky and the comely miss who !l!ed to goad Max Fleischer's clown in the “Out of the Inkwell” comedies. Leon Gordon, the author of “White Cargo,” persuaded her to adopt the drama via the role of Tondeleyo, and Earl Carroll, the producer, vows she shall not desert it as long as it is in | his power to make it attractive to her and to audiences who may see both. | SR St. Johns Getting Ready. !TH(»('(;HTS of delightful river trips on the steamer St. Johns down the Potomac during the Summer months are coming to the surface. Manw new improvements are now being made to the steamer St. Johna: entire new decks have been 1aid over the boat, both wheelhouses are new, the forward steps leading from the lower to the upper deck have been | changed to a stalrway less steep, the steamer’'s engine has been overhauled | and put in first-class condition, and all is in readiness for the big Summer season jush ahead. The boat has been repainted and redecorated through- out Booking charters are now open for the coming season, and the first trip will be the Board of Trade excursion to Quantico May 23. The regular sea- son will begin Friday, May 28, - cities 1t will Gregory | 0 comely UESDAY night, April 14, a special gala night will be celebrated in the Swanee ballroom in the Earle Theater Building, with Meyer Davis and the | Earle Theater managerent vying to make their end of the ‘“doings” biggest and best ever staged in Wash- | ington Davis a dance com- selected from to present bhination musicians | the best of his early portions of the evening. |at the_stroke of midnight from Earle Theater are promised the gest surprises Messrs. Brylawski and Hand of the Barle and Mr. Davis are asking for Washingtonis co-operation in maki this the gren of all the “parti staged on N. V. A. night while the big- Sun- | 1 and staged by John yfur- | same | many song | is | career of | the | many artists for the | | DenSEVIER: HELEN JASON Latle ‘Current Attractlons At the Theaters This Week NATIONAL—“The Best People, BELASCO—“The Sapphire Ring, KEITH'S—Trini, § noon. MUTUAL National—"The Best People.” “The Best People,” a comedy that was one of the early successes of the season in New York, comes to the Na- tional Theater tomorrow night for the week. It was written by David Gray, a magazine writer of repute, and Avery Hopwood, and the Charles Frohman Co. is its sponsor. Despite the fact that it is almost farcial, there is said to be an under- Iving bit of philosophy in the play, dealing with the problem of what to do about the tendency of the younger generation to break over the traces of discipline and restraint. The authors apparent- 1y take the view that perhaps the grown-ups are largely to blame themselves and that parents might do better if they were not so set in their own ideas and trled to under- stand the point of view of the other fellow. The purpose of the authors is sald to be so carefully masked with humor that never is there & dull mo- ment and no external evidence of preachment. The Charles Frohman interests have assembled a cast including Florence Johns, Charles Richman and Margaret Dale as the featured mem- bers. Miss Johns has made the “hit” of her career in the slang-slinging chorus girl, Millie, and seldom does she speak a line without evoking shouts of laughter. Charles Rich- man plays the staid business man, and Miss Dale, statuesque and hbeau- tiful, ought to be an ideal Mrs. Bron- son, ‘patriclan to her fingertips and the butterfiy wife of a wealthy man. Others are Pat Collins, Hope Brown, Helen Jackson, Willlam Valentine, George Graham, Gavin Muir, Sue Van Duzer, Jack Moore and Charles Adams. Belasco—"The Sapphire Ring. “The Sapphire Ring,” which will be | presented at the Shubert-Belasco Theater tomorrow night as a finished product already hailed as an un- usual success, is the work of a Hun- garian author, Laszlo Lakatos. It | was adapted by Isabel Leighton and staged by Lester Lonergen staged “East Is West,” "A ham | Lincoln” and “The Bad Man." The producer, George Choos, has given it a finished production. with a ¢ | exceptional merit. The play is said to have heen a sensational success ahroad, The Sanphive Ring" is d ‘s protrait of a woman.” ~ comedy. panish dancer, vaudeville. | | EARLE—“The Four Husbands,” vaudeville. STRAND—“A Vaudeville Surprise, GAYETY—"Wine, Woman and Song,” burlesque. " vaudeville. much discussed | Miss ' Opens tomorrow evening Opens tomorrow evenin Opens this afternoon. Opens this afternoon. Opens this afternoon. Opens this after- drama. “Laffin’ Thru,” burlesque. Opens this afternoon. in is Helen Gahagan. seen recently “Chains” and “Lech Kleschna,” cast as “the woman." The theft of a sapphire ring by a lady’s mald forces her mistress to confess to her husband an indiscre- tion which ehe believes is respon- sible for the disappearance of the ring, The subsequent discovery of the maid's theft and the return of the ring are capitalized by the lady for the purpose of a retraction of her confession. Her husband is not convinced. There {s a scene, of course, lies and much verbal fencing, The husband seems not vet convinced, but every definite argument with which he attempts to justify his suspicions is ably undermined, and he is forced. not too much against his will, final to accept his wife's protestations of her loyalty and her love for him. Frank Conroy plays the role of the husband and Kenneth Mackenna fhe third member of the triangle. a Dr. Erno Nemoth. Mildred Florence. Milano Tilden, Elizabsth Holman and Marcol Rousseau also are in the cast. Keith's—Trini, Spanish Dancer. Trini, a beautiful Spanish dancer,' will headline a bill replete with va- riety at B, F. Keith's Theater this week In an act of dance, song and com- edy, dressed tion and supported by Hurtado's Roy- al Marimba Orchestra of Seville and Warren Jackson and Dario Borzani. This is said to be the most elaborate and pretemtious offering of its kind in_vaudeville. ‘William Gaxton returns with an ex- cellent company Iin a novel one-act play called “Kisses,” written by the well known S. Jay Kaufman. Roy Cummings will follow in a hodge-podge of stories, fun and songs, called ne Afternoon.” He is assist- ed by Irene Shaw. Others wilt include Jimmy Lucas, author of many popular songs of the past and present, and who is sald also to have a brisk, amusing line of patter, in a skit called “Vampires and Fools.” ia which he is assisted by Geraldine Herbert; Arthur Hartley and Helen Patterson, in a skit called “One’ Night,” by J. Arnold and Ken- neth Keith, built along serious lires, but containing much fun; Mary Gau- tier's pony, “Bob,” that is said teo demonstrate that a horse can think and understand; two excellent ec- centric dancers, Wallace and Cappo; Elly, America’s leading lady juggier. together with Aesop’s Fables, Toples of the Day and the Pathe News Ple- torial. in a gorgeous produc- | Mutual | Janet Richards, Tomorrow. | | Miss Janet Richards, who gave the last talk in her Winter course on public questions last - Monday, an- nounces that, in response to the many requests from her patrons, she will give an extra talk tomorrow | the | reach New MWATHE SAPPHIRE scheduled Washington this week, is the work of Hungarian playwright Laszlo 1. Katos—indeed, the first of his plays to the American public. It |been given a fine production | George Choos, including a cast already has won for it the pi due a finished product. Washing therefore, will see it at its best, with RING,” which is for presentation in has by In this talk, under “unfinished busi- ness.” Miss Jichards will bring up to dute some of the interesting develop- mentx in the world's work will w also the new and vital prob 5t ming to the fore da day, and at the will give #n- | other book talk The lectures will be Auditorium of the New Masonic ple rteenth street and avenue. and will begin at 10:40 a hat are ¢ v close s given in the Tem- York Earle—'The Four Husbands' Ned Wevburn's production, “The Four Husbands” a miniature revue, will lead th th Theater this week. Flor- Millership of the Millership S ters is its featured player. Other good things in vaudeville in Pearson, Newport and Pearson Rhythm.” a dancing oddity: Ade- Jason and lelen larrigan, two who sing sweetly; “The Fall of vlet presented by a cast of capable players sponsored by J. Gordog Bostock, and Arthur Flagel's exceptional organ solos, with the rie vaudeville attractions | the players thoroughly familiar with | their respective roles and with its machinery well ofled and running smoothly. It is heralded from abroad, | where it is now running, as a sen- | sational success The story mysterious around the disappearance of a jew- eled ring. which causes Maj. Karoyvl |a wealthy man of Budapest, to sus- pect that his wife, Krista, is faith He has asked her to wear the at a ball in the evening. Her failure to do so, in addition to fresh scratches upon her arm and hand, arouses his suspicion and he brutally proceeds to compel her to confess how she lost the ring. Although the audience is aware that it was stolen by a hous: maid, Krista thinks that she wore it that afternoon and lost | ditions which _she explains to her | husbana and which in a way compro- | mise her. | The second act of the play is In t nature of what is called in motion picture parlance a “cut back,” for the purpose of presenting on the stage Krista’s story of what had occurred For several years an unimpeachable matron, she had repulsed the ad- woven is Earle News and a two-reel comedy. Strand—"A Vaudeville Surprise. Strand Theater this week, | today. the headline at- Franklyn D'Amore, with | Lopell and Ethel Trusdale, in Surprise” a melange hand-to-hand bal- selections | At the beginning traction Mickey A Vaudeville of songs, dar and ed in added attra § Co-E revue starr instrumental 1 novel manner. As an Alex Gerber offers " an up-to-the-minute g Galle Beverly. with a company including Rose Shelby, Sidney und Alfred Rels, Bernie Dos- «it and Fred Berd. Another featured number brings Arthur Angel and his partner, Violet Fuller, in a skit en- titled “Music and Chatter.” Others lare Harry Sykes, black-face comedian, |in “African Opera,” and Maude Ellet |and company in “Girls of Altitude,” |a thrilling astral exhibition. The screen attraction brings Shir- ley Mason in a_ film of stage life called “The Star Dust Trail,” in which she is cast as a cabaret dancer who later becomes a musical comedy star. Bryant Washburn plays the leading man role and the cast includes Rich- ard Tucker, Merta Sterling, Shannon Day and Thomas R. Mill. Frederick and Fanny Hatton wrote the story. “Grief in Bagdad,” a Sunshine com edy; the latest Fox News and orches tral numbers complete the bill. ancink perio fon | Gayety—"Wine, Woman and Song." “Wine, Woman and Song" with everything new but the title, is this week's attraction at the Gayety Theater. Five comedians, four prin- cipal girls, 24 choristers, and a work- ing staff of eight electricians and | stage mechanics will join their ef- forts in what is said to be a model exemplifi-ation of Columbia Bur- lesque. The comedians, one of the features of the show, Bert Bertrand, Harry §. La Van, Nate Busby, Edgar Rand and Charles Cole, constitute a battery of fun makers that should take a lot of beating even in such fast company as Columbia Burlesque. Gertrude Ralston, Dotty Bates and Agnes Dempsey are the girls who lead the numbers and introduce sing- ing and dancing specialties at the head of the feminine contingent, which includes 24 choristers. Mutual—"Laffin' Thru. “Lafiin’ Thru.” which comes to the Mutual Theater this week, is de- scribed as a round trip of fun, laugh- ter and song. in 2 acts and 16 scenes. The featured comedians are Charles (Klutz) Country and Joe Penner. Others in the cast are Dot Sevier, Ruth Elljs, Irene Dixon, Merrill Sevier and Cecil Phelps. A singing and dancing chorus especlally cos- tumed for each of the musical num- bers, is said to add much to the en- tertainment. Extra attractions announced in | conjunction with the regular per- formance are: Monday, Plantation | Revue, for local colored amateurs; Tuesday, surprise night; Wednesday night, a perfect form contest; Thurs- day night, wrestling match; Friday, | old-time amateur night, and Satur- | day, an auction. | Arcade. | As a sweet echo of ‘“grandma’ | day an old-fashioned ‘“‘grab-bag | party” will be the special feature at the Arcade on Tuesday night in cen- nection with the nightly dance pro- | gram this week. Great preparations are under way for an elaborate Easter ball on the following Monday eve- ning, it is announced. ring | it under con- | e | estab) Hung’arian Drama. fternoon. however, apartment, but becomes manifes suddenly called away his return, as she prom woman enters to reach a settlement of some sort with the doctor, by whom, it appears, she has been carded. After telling her story girl leaves. The doctor returns and at the oufset of colloquy Krista a burly rufian enter nounces that he s iend discarded girl his frankly is blackmail. There flict hetween the men, the out and the audience is left that Krista receives the seratches at this time loses her ring. had gone to hefore pur- the doctor is While waiting ed, & voung she his her pose s ais pury lights %o to infer telltale th when also she the ng r and attempts to him through wha tle third degree examination which the doctor proves as ¢ the husband. The maid, meanwhile confesses her theft and returns the ring, thus further mystifying the | busband. Here, howeve reci- tal of the plot should end unless the pleasure of those the ¥ is to be marred American theatrical much intere a fame both here and tense dramatic comedy interest, but also i £ this Hunga amounts uring who are to ses circles it has showing in | phire Ein X ause shed h | abroaa | that grips the | the first work | playwright to reach America new playwrights with a success always eagerly sought out. an and are Fate of the Librettist. VERYBODY knows what a fan js— not the kind that makes the black-eyed ladies of Spain so devas- tating to the soul of man, but he who ardently champions anything in espe elal, from base ball Stravinski, from Sunkist oranges to Gilbert and Sullivan operas Gilbert-Sullivan fans are an exclu- sive lot, who have a superior of pity for the vulgar, who are content with a revoe when “Ruddigor=" and “Princess lda” gather dust on the shelves. In recent vears there have been rumblings in that quarter. Gil- bert, heretofore, has been the adored and sacred partner; Sullivan has been the accepted and endured member of the firm, but it appears that Gilbert begins to “wear”” while Sullivan smiles at the passage of the years as does a beautiful wine carefully cel- lared. Is this part of the penalty libret- tists must pay? Next to Shakespeare's plays and the Bible, Gilbert probably has been more Qquoted than other writing employing the English language. Yet we read in the London newspapers that he no AMSEY WALLACE and Elizabeth Risden will head the cast of “Thrills,” by William F. Dugan. ‘The Four-Flushe Dunn, will open in New York April 13. The producer is Mack Hilliard, and the leading role will be played by Russell Mack. by Caesar Lowell Sherman will spend the Sum- mer on the coast in motion pictures. Next season he will appear under the management of ‘A. H. Woods, Charles Purcell has been engaged to succeed James B. Liddy in “Sky High." The latter has joined the Philadelphia “Student Prince” company “The Gorilla,” a new play by Ralph Spence, Is to be produced by Donald Gallagher. “The Leash, by Herbert Thomson, has been chosen as the best play sub- mitted in Marcus Loew's pldy contest for newspaper men. 1t will be pro- duced in New York “Something to Brag About,” a new comedy by William Le Baron and Ed- gar Selwyn, will be placed in rehearsal under Mr. Selwyn's direction. Jack Haskell, an American stage di- rector, who has been active in London in recent years, will stage “The Brown Derby,” which is to be produced by Charles K. Gordon. ‘The Paris-Ameyican Theatrical Co., Inc., headed by Miss Willette Kershaw, is planning the production of Ameri- can plays in Paris this Summer. Blanche Bates has been appointed by the State Women's War Relfef chair- man of a drive among players in New York theaters for an entertainment fund for soldiers’ hospitals. “The School Maid,” a musical ver- sion of the play, “The Charm School” |18 now in rehearsal and will be pre- |sented in New York this week. During the week of April | Messrs. Shubert, in assoclation {John Cromwell, will present in York & new drama, entitied "Harvest,” the with New | of the enthu- supplanted the lines th half now Sullivan's with a smack- 1 is siasts; that m, where spouted by the fans ence and half delight melodies hummed ing of the lips Henry B. 1 has on were th wrote but aft trade a fe he deplored his pen entually Smith had to elf under a nom de theats managers feared the mere un nouncement that he had done the hook would be sufficient to condemn it in some places before it was hewrd He only came out from under cover | with “The Love Song | Harolda Atterldge the | many New York Winter Garden pro- ‘du/‘:lnns for a dozen years. Anne B | sn sue- had rett ifie composed Caldwell has been a faithful friend to Fred Stone for a decade or more But her past successes are now & lia- bility to her. Yet Hassard Short chose among 10 other librettists Atteridge and Caldwell to contribute to the Rit Revue, belleving their experienced talents were invaluable in making his first independent production TIn the Spotlight |by Kate Horton. {ana Louise |engaged for | play Augustin Duncan Closser Hale have been important roles in this | Willie Howard, in “Sky High," at the Winter GGarden, replacing Al |son in “Rig Boy." is said to be play- ing to capacity houses at each per formance, and the plece probably will remain at the Winter Garden through- out the Summer, until replaced in the Fall by the “Passing Show The new Lionel Barrymore pla “Taps,” by Franz Adam Beyerlein, had its out-of-town premliere in New Haven, Conn. Irene Fenwick is the featurcd member of Mr. Burrymore's cast, which includes McKay Morris, Ulrich Haupt, Richard Standing, Frederick Macklyn, Egon Breecher Edwin Maxwell, Thurlow Bergen and Robert Thorne. The piece was staged by Lawrence Marston After four yvears in legitimate pro- ductions, William Gaxton once again holds forth in Keith-Albee vaudeville Last season he played with the musical comedy “‘Betty Lee,” prior to which he played in the New York and the road companies of the “Music Box His Auctioneer of that preduction was one of the high spots on the program, Walker Whiteside, who has just completed an engagement of three months in Chicago in his new play of the Orient, “Sakura,” will be seen tn New York following a brief tour of the Middle Western and Eastern citles. The play 15 by Atherton Brownell, who wrote under the pen name of Justin Theron, and Is basad on Sidney McCall's novel, “The Breath of the Gods.” Alexander Leftwich, casting direc- tor for the Shuberts, will soon begin casting the new operetta, “The Vaga- bonds,” based on the life of the French poet Villon, which will b, produced this season. Walton Waolf now playving with Fay Rainter in I'he Dream Girl,” will sing the lead- ing male role.